Undead for Fun and Profit: Part I

"A Necromancer should use the undead for knowledge and defense, never for attack." ---the Bathrobe Goblin

Monsters have been used as gimmicks to make money, sell crap, and explain weirdness that was otherwise obscured through ignorance or in the occult.   Werewolves in 16th century France were used to explain certain brutal killings that people attributed to werewolves. In fact, there was a case in France during the mid 1500's where the defendant (Gilles Garnier)  pleaded "lycanthropy" to the court. At the time, this  was a perfectly reasonable plea, but still got Frenchy executed. The courts, however,  were satisfied with the "why."  

D'oh!

There were some cases of tuberculosis, in colonial American, that were linked to vampirism.   For example,  Billy Bob got sick, started coughing up blood, then got all corpsified.  After the burial, the other family members would start getting sick.  Given the medical "knowledge" of the time, they figured that Billy Bob was a vampire and that he was feeding off the rest of the family.    Worried that the now-fangy Billy Bob was a one of the undead, his friends and family would dig him up and drive  a stake in his heart.  Makes sense.  Why not? 

The monsters, in these cases, were used by  pre-industrial civilizations as societal coping mechanisms. They knew Frenchy was tearing people apart in the woods, but they had no idea WHY. "Oh, he was a werewolf. K,  I feel better knowing why."  American colonists didn't understand the idea of infectious pathogens entering the respiratory system: they just new that Billy Bob croaked and the rest of the family was getting sick.  Stake Billy Bob's bones and all will be right in the universe.  It worked for them.  It let them move on with their happy little lives. 

I know what you’re thinking.  "That's very interesting, but what relevance does that have for me?  I'm a 21st century Terran with a smart phone.  Behold! Angry Birds!  In the palm of my hand!!  Marvel at my technology! Marvel, I say!!!!"  Or something like that.

Part II will discuss the uses the undead can have for an aspiring 21st century Necromancer.  In the meantime, mull over 15th century werewolves while playing Fruit Ninja.